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Borges has one tendancy. That is that he has no tendancies. All this breakdown will only reveal one giant unholy mess of a scatter plot for play calls and offensive gameplans that is totally unhelpful for deriving results.

There's a reason is the guy is probably the best college football coach in the nation right now. I mean, he made LSU in the NC game look absoluely foolish. That said, it's going to be a bit different because Borges has only every had a player like Denard for one year in his whole career. Can't defend Borges' offense presently like you would his Auburn offenses with Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Williams.

I was kind of hoping Saban might be resting on his laurels heading into the game.

A coach who wins multiple national championships doesn't rest on his laurels for anything. It doesn't surprise me in the least that Saban is going back that far and to that level of detail in scouting Al Borges' playcalling. I think Saban is a scumbag, but there's no doubt that he's obsessive in his level of preparation for opponents. We'll have our work cut out for us.

"there is only so much planning you can do for Denard." - only if Denard is playing his best game. If he significantly improves in passing and on field decision making compared to last season, he'll be deadly on the field. VT clearly figured out how to shut down the offense, and they (while no offense to Mr. Beamer and his crew) are not as good as Saban's crew.

But on the flip side, it's not like Hoke and his crew aren't breaking down Alabama tape. Isn't it normal to do this kind of thing anyway? Who doesn't break down film before a big game (even if people think it'll be a cakewalk for Alabama)? I'm just more surprised that they're not going on record on trying to breakdown Mattison's defense. Defense will decide this game.

I think both teams are probably going to go in with a no holds bar. It'll be an interesting game to watch to say the least.

...but, how much tape is the question. I feel Dantonio probably breaks down a ton of Michigan film, but not as much Indiana or Notre Dame film. Hoke will plan and scout Bama strongly, but I don't know if he will go back to s coordinator's game tapes from almost 30 years ago. That is pretty intense.

People seem to think last year showed some inherent flaw in Denard's game when the fact is he just had to learn a totally new offense. Even when things looked similar, the terminology, the route trees/fundamentals, and the role the WR's play (more decision making mid-play than under Rodriguez) were all new. Not to mention I think there was a bigger focus on high risk/high reward throws deep down the field (which probably accounts for that fact that he upped his number of touchdown passes despite struggling slightly everywhere else across the board and throwing less). When you are talking about a cerebreal position where less than half a second can make all the difference, a little difficulty is natural. On the flip side, the line between a little difficulty and great success is a fine one.

If he just gets back to his 2010 numbers we would see a 7.5% increase in completion percentage and a pick every 26.4 throws (which equates to less than 1 a game based on his 2011 usage) rather than every 17.2 throws. He also got sacked twice as often in 2011 (13 vs. 7) despite having a pretty fantastic line in front of him, which I'm guessing is just a product of still not being quite as sure on where to go with the ball.

If Denard does what we've already seen he can do, in an offense that now has a fantastic back standing next to him, we'll be more than fine. If Borges's constant comments about a "dramatic leap" in year 2 of his offense and Denard's prior history (going from an INT machine to #6 in the Heisman voting in year two with RR) tell us anything, we should be in for a real treat next season.

.. that Denard is trending in that direction. Early last season he had 6 INTs in three games against the defenses of SDSU, NW and Eastern Michigan. Some pretty "low level" defenses. BUT, at the end of the year, he had only 2 INTs against three pretty good defenses (Neb, OSU and VT).

He seems to be on the right track. That might be scaring other coaches.

Borges was learning a whole new offense too, in a way. In addition to learning the strengths and weaknesses of a roster full of players he had just met 6 months earlier, he was trying to implement a diverse rushing attack with possibly the greatest running QB in college football history. Early in the year I think he relied more on the "snap it to Denard and let him run with it" and throughout the year began to expand the offense and lean more heavily on his backs (especially Fitz). There were certainly ups and downs, but I think with a season full of tape and a better sense of what he's got (Fitz is the man) he could very well make just as big a leap in the run game as Denard will make in the passing game.

If that happens and the D remains in the same ballpark this team won't lose a game next year.

what college coach wouldn't spend his time reviewing tape for an upcoming opponent? I mean he has all of season to prepare for one team, I am pretty sure Toledo's coach would do the same thing right? I think we are kinda blowing this up a tad bit too much. He didn't win 2 NC by just guessing what the other team is doing. He is a great coach, but so are our coaches. Big game so big stakes.

4/5 of the teams in college football will play tomato cans in the first week of the season. Yet, they will scout these teams. We may be no where near as good as Alabama but we have one of the most dynamic offenses in college football. We're definitely not going to be beneath their notice.

What exactly are we banking? That we have a great chance to win? I'd probably accept as fact the statement that Michigan has a great chance to win every game they play so you haven't really gone out on a limb with that banking transaction . . .

We lost three great defensive players. I am going out on a limb by stating that those players that are replacing them will have to produce all game for Michigan to be successful. This is vital to beating Bama. So, yes bank it chief.

based on several factors including his history with Michigan State, and my belief that he thinks Brady Hoke and Denard Robinson are both "twerps," that it is Nick Saban's intent and desire to beat Michigan by 16 touchdowns after saying "Pain" to Brady Hoke at midfeild before the game ala Clubber Lang. I have no doubt that reviewing every game film of Al Borges that he can find is legitimate.

What Saban is trying to do is learn what type of coaching personality Borges has and find out his general philosophy when it comes to calling plays.

What Michigan has going for it, in this case, is that Borges is pretty much convinced that while Denard is here, Michigan is a spread team and must use concepts that Borges hasn't really used except for last year.

I'm guessing that Borges will be visiting some spread gurus this offseason to learn more ways to take advantage of Denard's talents. Probably won't be RichRod, obviously won't be Meyer, so it could be Chip Kelly, or maybe some other really creative guy in D1-AA (FCS), DII, DIII, NAIA, or JUCO.

he has to break down that much film cause he knows, like i would, that his defense lost alot of key players with veteran experience and when you have alot of younger, newer players you have to play A ball to beat an opponent like Michigan, especially the first game of the season. Their 27-11 game at PSU last year was a totally different dynamic sense PSU had the worst QB play they've had in a long time last year and their D was so nasty. Just a little list of who is gone from that team: Kirkpatrick-CB, Barron-S, Gentry-DT, Upshaw-DL, Hightower-Hybrid LB. I dont care who you are that is too much veteran talent to replace and the sad part is I am sure I missed another one on D. Not to mention Maze and Richardson on O. They should be worried! As should we cause its Alabama.

Saban is a Bellichick guy. Bellichick always gives his lower assistants projects to do in the off season. This looks like one of those kind of tasks. Saban is not worried about what plays he called at Portland St. I bet this assistant has been tasked with a goal of coming up with a certain amount of information from all this film that Saban can use. I can see him running into Saban's office all bleary eyed.

By the way has any one thought of looking into whether Dantonio and Narducci put bounties out on our players last year? It's so obvious that they put one out on Denard and I bet there is someone within that dirty program who is willing to spill the beans for 15 minutes of fame.

Maybe Michael Rosenberg needs a story line? Anyone want to make name for your self, get on it.

I think our defense will be able to match up fairly well with Alabama's offense, but we will need to see a ton of improvement out of Denard and the passing game to have a chance. There is no denying that Denard is a special runner but no one can beat an Alabama defense without getting the ball downfield. This is needed to open up the running game and back up an aggressive Bama defense. Look at what they did to Jordan Jefferson and LSU. We really need to see some major improvements in Denard's decision making and mechanics.

Having said that, I was watching the UTL game the other day and when Denard sets his feet he can really deliver a nice ball. It was in games like the Sugar Bowl when his mechanics and decision making broke down that he really struggled (obviosuly). If he puts in a lot of time in getting more comfterable with his reads and mechanics then we should at least have a shot vs Bama.

Or we could just troll them completely. Focus on defense to completely stop their offense and then just get the ball within kicking distance and kick field goals. This is why I could never be a coach. I'd just do too many things to amuse myself. Hey, you want to waste hours watching this film? Boom, nothing but special teams Sabie.

What Borges did his first years on different teams with different players is nothing more than noise on a graph of his current tendencies. It would be like analyzing two different coaches at once. You'd need a statistician on retainer just to make sure you weren't poisoning your data by going that far back.

While a thorough review of Borges' game film might reveal some situational tendencies, the most relevant game film will most certainly be our final four or five games last year.

I expect we'll see a pretty different offense from the one we saw last year (until the ohio game) because Borges was just settling into a comfort level with the spread and being okay using it more the large majority of snaps.

This year, we'll see the same looks, but we'll be passing more out of them. And, you can bet Saban's primary goal will be taking away the run. He'll believe forcing us to pass will give him the best chance of success. And I think the only way we beat 'Bama is if we're able to get some big plays from the passing game.

There's no denying that Saban's going to have a damn good gameplan coming into Jerryworld. What Michigan is going to have to capitalize on most is Alabama's defensive inexperience.

I don't want to take away from how talented their defense will still be, but it won't be as good as last year's, especially not in the first game of the year when they may not have gelled yet. If all those guys were returning after the BCS title game (Kirkpatrick, Hightower, etc.), I would already have written this game off as a loss, to be perfectly honest.

Plus, given that Richardson's gone, Lacy is out of spring practice, and Bama hasn't had a legitimate WR threat since Julio Jones, I think there's a pretty good chance our defense can hang with their offense. Just need to pray BWC finally lives up to his potential, gets into their backfield and makes life miserable for McCarron.

Still, getting past that defense is going to be a tall order to fill. I still have to lean towards Bama in this, because its Nick Fucking Saban, but we absolutely have a chance.

Yes, but on the flip side, we've lost some key players too. And no doubt they're going to capitalize on that as well. It is Nick Fucking Saban, but we can be their 1998 Syracuse/Oregon. Not unheard of.

I'm not sure how effective this will be considering we have more of a hybrid offense. However, with this much time to do it, the video breakdown isn't too crazy. A game or two per day and you'd be done with a season in 10-12 days.

analysis/paralysis. I can't imagine you could develop a defensive scheme that could adapt to any/all plays called in the last 25 years. Even the majority of plays with different teams and personnel across 25 years. Today's Borges isn't the same guy he was 25 years ago. With limited time to coach and teach in college, it just seems crazy to think you have the time and the players to install such a thing. So, have at it Nicky boy!

I think Saban and Smart will focus on keeping Denard from running, that being said if Denard can use his quicks to scramble and move the pocket around the field (see Illinois, Nebraska, tsiO), he can create mismatches for the WRs and hopefully hit Hopkins or Toussaint in stride on some check downs to keep the chains moving.

I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but Alabama has a lot more NFL talent than Michigan. I truly believe Hoke will have Michigan ready for a national title run in year four. I don't see Denard doing much against Bama. Say what you want about Sabans off the field tactics, but his teams play hard nosed, disciplined football on the field. I' m thinking Bama will handle Michigan similar to how they have handled PSU last year. I hope I'm wrong. Too many of you are being homers and not taking the emotion out of your predictions. Let's face it Bama has great coaching and great players. Michigan is getting there, but their not at that level yet.

Denard has struggled mightily against top defenses. This is his 3rd year as starter so I'm sure he will improve but I wouldn't anticipate an ND performance, probably more along the lines of VaTech but without Hemingway.

No one is really expecting Michigan to blow out Alabama. However, an upset would not be within the realm of impossibilities. I honestly think it'll be either really close or we'll be smoked with no in-between.